Christopher > Recent Status Updates

I'm glad I am reading this book now and not a couple years ago. I would probably not have been able to see how absolutely absurd so many of the claims Blaut debunks from the "European miracle" pseudohistorians (no doubt they would seethe at that prefix, but it is the most accurate) are, though even without my study of Asian history these last two years I would have known how stupid the medieval Europe they present is

The first volume contained 9 stories, each ~26 pages. They were pretty weak, but I have never read manga and have read very few comic books in the past 15 years, so I couldn't be sure how relevant my judgement was. Until now. The 10th story, the first of volume two, The Gateless Barrier, was superb and begins what seems to be a tradition of 65 page stories, with more depth and plot than before. Glad I continued.

Zero character development. Zero historical or cultural context, though there are a handful of Japanese words that could use explaining. Zero tension or suspense, every story is completely formulaic and predictable. Zero individuality, with almost every female looking exactly the same. I want to try a bit further, see if the story picks up, see why it's so acclaimed, but I have my doubts.

Four issues done.

The first chapters were excellent, but the current chapter is painfully boring. It doesn't say anything interesting, just goes on and on about gilt stupas built in the 900s containing Buddha relics or sutras, and crafted in slightly different variations over the decades.

Very fascinating book. I'm enjoying it, even as it discusses things I've never found interesting in the slightest.

I think I'm falling in love with this book

Excellent

The constant name dropping of imatinib makes me question Dr. Prasad's objectivity. The drug made by his boss is the greatest wonder drug in the history of medicine, but everything else is a scam. That's essentially how this book comes across. It's a shame, because generally it's a pretty interesting book with a lot of important things to say.

Almost done book two. At this rate, there might be hope to finish by the end of the year. 600 pages in 100 days, that's nothing. 25 in a day is my record. But I still have a few other Chinese novels to complete.

A very fun fantasy novel. I fear that if I get to the end of the English translations, I'll have no choice but to learn Japanese. Hopefully there's a Chinese translation of the latter books. Somehow, it has a fresh feeling, not so weighed down by the tropes of the genre in English fantasy. I detect some East Asian influence, but it also doesn't feel too weighed down by that tradition either.